NET-ZERO INDUSTRIES MISSION

2023 Net-Zero Industries Award

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The Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries (MI NZI) Award, hosted by Mission Innovation´s Net-Zero Industries Mission, recognised and celebrated outstanding contributions to industrial decarbonisation on the global stage. Taking place at COP28 in Dubai, the ceremony held on December 8, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to revolutionise energy-intensive industries and drive substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. 

Receiving nearly 70 submissions spanning 16 countries, the inaugural MI NZI Award has helped highlight how the global community is actively engaging in the critical mission of decarbonising heavy industry. 

The Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries Award 2023 Winners and Runner-up in three categories are: 

Outstanding Projects 

  • Winner: Carbon2Business Laegerdorf, Holcim (Germany) GmbH, Germany 
  • Runner-up: CALF-20 Metal-Organic Framework for Carbon Capture & Removal, University of Calgary & Svante Technologies Inc., Canada 
  • Runner-up: Building the Future of E-waste Recycling to Accelerate Circular Green Metals, Mint Innovation, New Zealand 

 

Female Innovators 

  • Winner: Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, IDRIC, United Kingdom 
  • Runner-up: Dr Ekaterina Kravchenko, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong S.A.R., China 
  • Runner-up: Sophia Hamblin Wang, MCi Carbon, Australia 

 

Young Talents 

  • Winner: Dr Suneeti Purohit, CSIRO, Australia 
  • Runner-up: Dr Lukas Kasper, TU Wien, Austria 
  • Runner-up: Dr Serene Sow Mun Lock, Malaysia

 

ABOUT

The heavy emitting sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals and aluminium, are a major source of global greenhouse emissions. They have come under increasing pressure to accelerate their way to net-zero emissions.

Although we are still a considerable distance away from our ultimate goal, net-zero emissions, there are encouraging signs of progress in this sector. Continued advancements each year build on our confidence to enable further innovations that accelerate the industrial deployment of decarbonisation technologies.

In celebration of the trailblazers spearheading this transformation, Mission Innovation Net-Zero Industries has instituted the Net-Zero Industries Award. The winners are not just recipients of a prize; they stand as pillars of inspiration.

The outstanding projects, the female innovators, and the promising young talents that are recognized exemplify the change we strive to see in the world.

CATEGORIES

The 2023 MI NZI Award recognizes the extraordinary efforts made by individuals and organizations in three distinct categories.

The first category is Outstanding Projects. Acknowledging projects that revolutionize industries, disrupt the status quo, and set new benchmarks for decarbonisation in energy intensive industries.

The second category is Female Innovators. Women play a pivotal role in shaping our society and have an immense potential to lead the change towards a net-zero future. We want to honor exemplary women who have broken barriers, shattered glass ceilings, and are driving change in industries.

Last but certainly not least, we have the Young Talents category. We firmly believe that the power to drive change lies within our young minds, brimming with fresh ideas and unwavering determination. The award celebrates the young trailblazers, the visionaries of tomorrow, who are already making remarkable strides towards a sustainable world.

CONTACT US

For more information, please contact us: Net Zero Industries Mission Secretariat, Catrin Haider T +43 50550-6095 | E-Mail: Netzeroindustriesaward@ait.ac.at

You can also follow us on LinkedIn.

#MINZIAward2023 #NetZeroIndustriesMission #MissionInnovation #Award #IndustrialDecarbonisation #HeavyIndustry


NEWS AND UPDATES 

 

Find out more about the Net-Zero Industries Mission.

 

MEMBERS

The Co-leads: This Mission is co-led by Austria and Australia

  • Australia: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
  • Austria: Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology

 

Core Mission Members:

  • Canada, Natural Resources Canada
  • China, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • European Commission, DG Research and Innovation
  • Finland, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
  • Germany, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
  • Republic of Korea, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
  • United Kingdom, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

 

Mission Support Group:

  • The United States, Department of Energy

 

Key Mission Sponsors and Partners:

  • Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
  • Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT)
  • Clean Energy Ministerial Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI)
  • Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC)
  • The International Energy Agency (IEA) Technology Collaboration Programme on Industrial Energy-related Technologies and Systems (IEA IETS)
  • The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
  • The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT)
  • Mission Possible Partnership (MPP)
  • A.SPIRE
  • United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
  • World Economic Forum (WEF)
  • World Steel Association (worldsteel)
  • Worley

 

Mission Director:

Elvira Lutter, Program Manager at the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund

Global Mission Coordinator:

Dr. Alan Monaghan, Senior Vice President – Technology and Expert Solutions at Worley

 

THE MISSION

The Net-Zero Industries Mission is focused on unlocking emission reductions through demonstrations and cooperation across energy intensive and hard-to-abate industries such as steel, cement, chemicals and refining.

Net-zero emissions is a global challenge. Innovation will be most effective if countries are able to share some of the high development and investment risks. The Mission is:

  • Increasing, connecting and helping to align both national and multinational RD&D efforts into a challenge driven initiative
  • Driving novel technology cooperation to reduce time to market
  • Joining forces with existing networks, organisations and platforms to raise awareness, alignment, and create knowledge and confidence in the use of innovative solutions.

 

The Heavy Industry Challenge

Energy intensive industries are responsible for around 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Research and Development, Demonstration and Deployment (RDD&D) over the next decade is critical for industry to develop and validate industrial processes and technologies that enable radical emissions reductions at lowest costs.

Current investment from industry is falling behind the rate of change required to meet global emission targets for 2030, let alone 2050.

Immediate action is required if we are to make a positive change in industry understanding, confidence and investability of decarbonisation technologies in time for 2030.

 

MISSION PROGRESS

Together the actions of Mission members and partners will ensure that key technical solutions are developed and demonstrated by 2030, to enable an effective and efficient decarbonisation of energy intensive industries by 2050, across multiple regions of the world.

Together, the members have:

  • Developed a joint roadmap and Mission Action Plan: members agreed on the joint roadmap and worked together to publish an Action Plan that outlines the national and international effort needed over the next decade to achieve the Mission’s goal.

 

In addition, each member commits to:

  • Work within one or more pillar areas: nominate focus areas to provide insights, resources, and project examples to add to the collective knowledge base of the Mission under an agreed knowledge sharing framework.
  • Large investments in RD&D projects (to fund demonstration projects & others): members will contribute to RD&D activities by providing funding commitments to relevant innovation areas, leveraging co-investment from the private sector.

 

“The development and accelerated deployment of breakthrough technologies are prerequisites for decarbonizing heavy industry and for achieving climate neutrality. I am delighted that, together with Australia as co-lead, alongside a significant number of Mission Innovation members, we will be working together to make the Net-Zero Industries Mission possible. “

Leonore Gewessler, Austrian Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology

 

The Net-Zero Industries Mission will accelerate the development and deployment of emissions reduction technologies in industry, crucial to reaching net zero by 2050. We are excited to co-lead this Mission and work together with our international partners. Australia brings to the Mission world-leading expertise from researchers and private sector in renewable energy and industry innovation.

Chris Bowen MP,  Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy

 

“To reduce emissions and fight climate change, it is imperative that we develop and deploy clean technology, especially in heavy and hard to abate industries. Through initiatives like the Net-Zero Industries Mission, we can align both national and multinational efforts to scale up emerging technologies, share best practices, and implement low-carbon solutions across our economies. I look forward to working with member countries to make real progress towards achieving our climate goals.”

 Jonathan Wilkinson, Canadian Minister of Natural Resources

 

“Finland has prepared sectoral climate roadmaps showing the way of various industries towards climate neutrality. Finland is committed to the Net-Zero Industries Mission.”

Mika Lintilä, Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment, Finland